Sentara career camp gives students a look into health care jobs

HAMPTON — Thirteen-year-old Alonna Brown, wearing baby blue scrubs and a stethoscope around her neck, stood outside the Sentara Careplex emergency room Wednesday morning waiting for the ambulance. As soon it pulled in, Alonna — a student at Newport News’ Gildersleeve Middle — and her peers took turns climbing inside, pushing the buttons to operate a stretcher and wondering about the weight of the paramedic’s backpack.

The group of about 20 rising seventh- through ninth-graders spent the week in the Sentara Health Career Camp, getting a glimpse into the world of healthcare. Sentara’s seven hospitals hold a session during the summer.

Students are introduced to numerous careers and participate in hands-on activities. In addition to the ambulance visit, Wednesday’s schedule included a “Stop the Bleed” class, where students learned how to pack and dress a wound and apply a tourniquet.

The students worked on “limbs”— foam tubes wrapped in flesh-colored cloth with chunks cut out to represent wounds. As one student wrapped gauze around the wound, she asked an instructor if she would hurt the person if she wrapped too tightly.

“It will be very uncomfortable for them,” the teacher said, “but you are saving their life.”

Many of the students have been considering careers in healthcare because they want to help others.

Liana Gonzalez, 12, has wanted to be a doctor ever since her great-grandmother had a fatal stroke several years ago.

“That made me want to help more people like her,” said Liana, who will be a seventh grader at Booker T. Washington Middle School in Newport News. She has watched numerous medical documentaries and said the Sentara camp has solidified her interest in becoming a doctor. She especially enjoyed a cardiology lesson about heart blockages.

Reagan Mizelle, 14, wants to help people by becoming a cardiologist. But the rising Menchville freshman said her favorite experience so far had been visiting the maternity ward, which included a game where the students tried to dress a doll baby with one hand. She won.

Sentara officials say the camp is a pipeline strategy to address the shortage of healthcare professionals.

“When these kids grow up, we need them caring for us,” said Iris Lundy, the hospital’s vice president of health equity.

The camp also seeks to increase the diversity of the workforce. Sentara staff partners with schools to encourage students from underrepresented communities to apply for the program.

“The literature says we have better outcomes when we can identify with the person sitting next to us,” Lundy said.

Silvia Garcia-Romero, director of diversity and inclusion for the hospital, said patients trust and are more comfortable around providers they can identify with. Having a more diverse workforce means a better likelihood of a patient finding a provider who speaks their language, understands their culture or shares their religion. These things can allow professionals to cater to patients’ needs, whether accommodating dietary restrictions, allowing for additional visitors for more family-oriented cultures or bringing in spiritual leaders for support.

Garcia-Romero said diversity is also important because it creates a more inclusive work environment.

Nour Habib, nour.habib@virginiamedia.com